A Walk through Cheekwood - Happy Easter!

Come take a walk with me as I take in the flowers blooming in the Robert Ellis Color Garden at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. This gorgeous garden was adorned with red and yellow Tulips in every size and variety that the landscapers could possibly imagine.

Visitors may have surrounded me as I meandered along the garden path, but it was as though I were totally alone in the universe, as I took in every vibrant red and stunning yellow Tulip popped open with sunshine diving deep into its inner beauty.

The deep reds and yellows were laden with black centers and large stamens. The varieties of Tulips was astounding with single and double and even peony shaped Tulips all around.

Oh, Cheekwood how you out did yourself on this glorious Bloom Fest celebration.

Every Spring I attempt to capture the beauty of the Crepe Myrtles as they stand sentinel keeping a watchful eye over the stunning blooms around them.

Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, Jonquils, Petunias. Thank you Cheekwood for a glorious Bloom Fest. I take my hat off to you!!

I wish each and every one of you a very peaceful and Happy Easter. May your day be filled with sunshine and bright blue skies. And may all the wonders of Easter surround you. Whether it be chocolate bunnies and dyed eggs or a sit down feast of scrumptious baked ham with all the trimmings, I wish everyone peace and joy on this glorious day of Resurrection. ENJOY!

The Meaning of a Purple Rose

As I walked around the Atlanta Botanical Gardens recently, I almost walked right past this bush of purple Roses. But I stopped short of passing them by, looked closely and thought how gorgeous they were. If only I had taken more images. There were so many people milling about that I didn't want to disrupt anyone so I snapped a few quick images and moved on.

The purple Rose signifies enchantment. Should you receive a purple Rose from another it supposedly means they have fallen in love with you at first sight. I knew the different colors of Roses had different meanings, but this was one I didn't know until now. How charming is that. Fall is going to pass us by here shortly and the weather is going to move right into Winter, but not quite yet. We do, however, have a hard warning tonight. I hope wherever you are you are enjoying the beautiful Fall colors. ENJOY!

The Beauty of the Southern Magnolia

There is only one Magnolia tree I consider more beautiful than the Japanese Magnolias, like the ones I photograph at Bernheim Arboretum in Kentucky. That Magnolia is the Southern Magnolia tree. It's huge Magnolia blooms are unmatched. The farther south you travel, the more Southern Magnolias you encounter, which is why I am finding them in abundance here in Tennessee, and in and around Nashville.

As I traveled around the city and the outskirts last year, I kept an eye out for beautiful Magnolia blooms, but never really found any until I happened out my back door. One afternoon while taking a brief walk, I discovered Southern Magnolias all along the back of the building next to the sidewalk. I went inside and grabbed my camera and snapped photo after photo. The blooms were perfect and gorgeous. I noticed the trees were growing in other pathways around the complex.

Southern Magnolias are found all throughout the southeast United States and even more so the farther south you travel. And while the grounds under the trees are a mess with their fallen leaves and blooms, I have to say the Southern Magnolia is my favorite bloom. I captured these images last year out back, but only shared one of the photos. Today seemed like the perfect day to post these gorgeous blooms.

Soon Dogwoods will be in full bloom and shortly after the Southern Magnolias will bloom. It's odd Southern Magnolias bloom in the Summer. And sad too as once the temperatures hit a sweltering high, the blooms immediately wilt. Sad, but there you have it.

Did I mention it's snowing outside today. No accumulation is expected. Just some snow flurries passing through on their way East. With the temperatures in the mid thirties, Cheekwood in Bloom festivities were cancelled and admission is being offered at half price today. Baby, it's cold outside. Oh, Spring! Where art though? ENJOY!

LINKING TO The Scoop at Stonegable

Among the Magnolias II: Kentucky Woman Series

Come along as we continue my Kentucky Woman Series. I want to share more of my time at Bernheim with you. I consider Bernheim sacred. I have spent many seasons visiting here. I have captured thousands of images of bees and birds and trees and flowers. I have photographed the colorful pink and yellow Japanese Magnolia blooms in Spring. I have hiked leaf strewn forest paths in Autumn. I have even driven the heavily laden snow covered road next to the arboretum in the dead of Winter. Every season at Bernheim has a story to tell and I have visited in every season to see that story told.

In Spring, the Canadian Geese and tiny Goslings swim around Lake Nevin. In Summer, the Yellow and Black Swallowtail Butterflies flit in and out of the Butterfly bushes. The Autumns, oh, the Autumns are especially gorgeous. The entire forest drive is a sea of yellow and orange with dots of red thrown in here and there. There are more gifts here given us by Mother Nature than any one person can count.

Today, I share images of the beautiful yellow Japanese Magnolias in bloom from past visits. It takes a tremendous amount of patience to wait as Winter's grip lets go and Spring begins to open up with its Daffodils and Crocus and Magnolia blooms. The reward is worth the wait. I captured these beautiful blooms on especially warm Spring days in the arboretum. The aroma from the Magnolia blossoms filled the air as I walked around the trees. It enveloped my senses and left me virtually intoxicated.

I especially love to peruse my archives after a visit in search of the best image to crop closely revealing the intricate details hidden in the center of the blossom. The Magnolia species has approximately 210 genus. These ancient flowers are said to have existed long before bees even evolved. Beetles are the main forager of these trees. Perhaps that is why their stamens and pistols are so tough. They need to be hardy to withstand the damage beetles can do. What's that old saying, beauty isn't everything.

When you walk among the Magnolias at Bernheim, you can't help but notice their craggy branches. They appear as ancient as the species itself. There are various species of yellow and pink Magnolias throughout the arboretum, in various sizes and shapes of blooms as well. I've witnessed each and every one. Thing is, I believe the largest and hardiest blooms open later than their far daintier counterparts.

I have a love affair with Mother Nature. I admit it. Bernheim only makes my love affair even more worth the while. This place is near and dear to my heart, and for long as I'm walking the face of this Earth, I will return here as often as time and distance allows.

I hope you will allow me to share a true story. I remember visiting Bernheim for the very first time on a field trip in elementary school. I sat at the picnic table and ate my lunch with all the other kids. Then afterwards we were allowed to wonder around the woods. Low and behold, I climbed high up on the hill above the picnic area, and became so enthralled with the woods that I nearly got left behind. Until a head count revealed someone was missing from the bus. I remember being up in the woods when I heard a voice from down below calling my name. I climbed back down the hill, and sure enough, I was the last passenger to get on the bus. This really happened. I kid you not. Could it be that even at an early age I knew this place was special.

I will forever be a Kentucky Woman in every sense of the word. And every time I write another post in this series, I am reminded of that. I thought this might be the last of my series, but I feel another installment could be in order. Stay tuned. ENJOY!

Linking to Stonegable The Scoop

Among the Japanese Magnolias: Kentucky Woman Series

For a brief few weeks in very early Spring, even before the first official day arrives, Bernheim Arboretum's Japanese Magnolia trees burst forth with a stunning display of color. Witnessing this event over the course of those weeks requires perseverance. As the old adage says, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

The first Japanese Magnolias customarily spring forth even before the other trees in the arboretum. These trees set among the other ornamental trees just outside the gates of the arboretum. As the earliest days of Spring approach, these particular trees ready themselves with vivid dark pink buds, ready to burst open, while the temperatures continue to fluctuate between Winter and Spring. The vivid pink Magnolia buds find their moment, at just the right temperature, and open to reveal glorious pink blooms.

As I walked among the arboretum trees in year's past, deep green fuzz appears as buds. Soon slick buds of varying pinks will adorn the craggy branches mixed in with the blossoms themselves. The sun and shade illuminates the petals revealing various hues of pink. Large clusters of Japanese Magnolia buds and blooms are present on every branch on every tree in a display of brilliant color.

One particular Spring the temperatures were especially mild leaving the beautiful Magnolia blossoms to linger on the branches. On that visit I walked among the trees, stopping at one point, as I realized something amazing. I took a breath and smiled. The pungent fragrance of Magnolia blossoms filled my senses. I gave thanks to the warmer temperatures for allowing the blossoms to give up such a magnificent aroma. Everything around me was enveloped in beauty to see and smell.

As a photographer, you want to take the most breath taking photos when you are capturing images of flowers. As blooms clung to branches wide open, the stamen inside revealed a landscape all its own. I attempted to capture its beauty as I came in close to the blossom snapping images. Some blossoms opened only slightly while others seemed to open as though to welcome you in.

Anxiously awaiting early Spring, with its varying degrees of temperatures, requires patience. Knowing the end result will be glorious buds, in various hues of lavender and pink, helps to ease the pain. Seeing the visual display of magnificent buds and blossoms and taking in the fragrant scent of Japanese Magnolias leaves you feeling as though you have experienced something truly magical. God surely planned it this way and I am so utterly happy he did. I hope you will plan a trip to Bernheim during this season. And I hope you will experience what I have in years past. I will be back with a second post on this subject. Only it will feature the hues of yellow that are displayed alongside the pink Japanese Magnolias. I hope you will come back. ENJOY!

Beauty of Spring

While the Northeast is in the throws of a major snowstorm, with a second one promptly on its heels, I wanted to post an image representative of Spring. Winter's last hooray will soon be gone, but not before the misery of it. Yet, as I think of it, I almost wished it would snow here in Tennessee as it harbors such a beautiful landscape. I would require at least 6 inches to sufficiently blanket the ground for days to come and leave vignettes of soft fluffiness here and there throughout the lawns and woodlands. There has been virtually no snow here this Winter. We did get a sprinkling this weekend, but it was further South from me. I have visions of Fir trees blanketed with snow, branches hanging heavy toward the ground, and park benches aptly covered in a thick glistening layer of white, as though the snow needed a respite before it fell to the ground. These last snows of Winter will soon be gone leaving behind a landscape of pinks and yellows and lavenders with flowers budding and blooms bursting forth. Good bye my Winter, hello dearest Spring. ENJOY!

Oh Winter, Oh Spring!

With virtually no Winter here in Tennessee this year and not sure if Winter's grip has given up its hold, I witnessed two beautiful Japanese Magnolia trees in full bloom in Nashville this week. Has Spring arrived? I wanted to feature this pale pink Japanese Magnolia hybrid photo I captured several years ago at Bernheim. The faintest pink hue I had ever seen. The lavender buds were as beautiful as its pale pink bloom. God works in wondrous ways. I hope you have a wonderful week ahead. ENJOY!

Yellow Canola Fields

After learning about a farm in northern Tennessee, not far outside of Nashville, with blooming Canolas, I had to take a drive this weekend in hopes of finding it. After a good deal of turning down this road, turning around and backtracking and then turning down that road, eventually I found the farm. Sure enough, there were several fields on both sides of a country road in full bloom with yellow Canola flowers for as far as the eye could see. It was a beautiful sight, not to mention a definite pick me up, what with the bright yellow blooms.

I read online that canola is not only an edible oil for consumption by both humans and animals, but it is considered to be one of the healthiest plant derived oils. As I was snapping photos one of the farmers stopped and mentioned that the Canola fields aren't planted every year. I hope your week has been a good one. The weekend is upon us and I will be conducting my second photography workshop. I will teaching Bird Photography and fortunately, for this workshop I don't have to travel. There's a ton of bird photography hot spots right out my back door all up and down Old Hickory Lake. Wish me luck! ENJOY!

Southern Roots Exhibit

One of the many 'goings on' offered at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens throughout the year are exhibitions featuring various artists using different mediums such as wood, glass, bronze and steel. Throughout the Summer months this year you can view several works of art on exhibit throughout the botanical gardens by the world renowned sculptor, Steve Tobin. His Southern Roots exhibition features several large sculptures from his 'Steelroots' series. The large white sculpture in the background of this first image towers 15 feet tall and weighs some 7000 pounds. It is my favorite outdoor sculpture in this series. The fact that it is situated right in the center of my favorite garden at Cheekwood, the Bradford Robertson Color Garden, doesn't hurt either.

During my visit, as I wondered throughout the grounds capturing images of the beautiful Tulip displays, I would turn occasionally and notice this sculpture looming in the distance. Before I left the gardens I stopped to capture this second image as I stood on the outskirts of the color garden. The flower gardens in full bloom is exhibit enough for me, especially the Tulip Display, but having these gorgeous sculptures on display makes for a much more interesting visit. I hope your week is off to a good start. I will be back soon. By the by, I had another post up today, but deleted it. It just wasn't cutting it for me. And I am a woman after all which means I can change my mind. ENJOY!

Pink and Yellow Tulips

I close the week with this image from in front of the Botanical Hall at Cheekwood taken some weeks ago on my early Spring visit. Everyone have a wonderful weekend! Nashville will have more blue skies, lots of sunshine and moderate temperatures with no humidity. We couldn't ask for better weather. ENJOY!

Note: My sister, Linda, is back home in Louisville finally after a two week stay in the hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. It will be a long, long recovery for her. My prayers continue to go out to her.

Tulips & Hyacinths

On my last visit to Cheekwood, I encountered a gorgeous flower garden filled with bright yellow Tulips and pink Hyacinths. The second I caught a glimpse of this garden, thoughts of Easter began to conjure up in my mind. It was the perfect abode to Easter what with Sunday being the holiday. Hyacinths were originally from the Middle Eastern countries. Something I did not know until I looked up the flower itself online. Also during the Victorian era, Hyacinths were revered for their long lingering fragrance.

Those violets, if that is the flower they are, tucked throughout the entire garden made for an amazing display. While I have never been and never will be a gardener, I honestly have to say I am amazed to think of all of the work that goes into each individual garden. At every turn in the walkway, there is a different colored flower featured, not to mention a different species altogether, and then with the other flowers tucked in throughout, it surely is a big job tending to these gardens. In my opinion, the most beautiful displays are very close to the front of the botanical gardens especiallly around the Bradford Robertson Color Garden and the Botanical Hall.

There is a walkway lined with Crepe Myrtles near the Botanical Hall. Last year I was able to capture images of gorgeous yellow and red Tulips blooming all throughout those Crepe Myrtles. However, it was too early this year. If you missed that post from last year, simply go here.

Cheekwood Botanical Gardens is a truly remarkable place to visit as are most botanical gardens. There are gardens within Cheekwood that have become increasingly familiar to me. Yet, I don't think I will ever be as fond of any place as I am Bernheim, perhaps if for no other reason than it is close to home for me being right outside Louisville. It is in the sixties with lots of sunshine here this weekend. I am exhausted from work due to numerous deadlines, but I am hoping to get outdoors none the less. I wish for you is a fabulous weekend. ENJOY!

Ode to Spring

Winter harkens the darkest of days, with bitter cold and snow filled skies.

As Winter days bring sleet and ice, we dream of a warmer season.

A season filled with sunny days and warm wispy breezes.

Of misty raindrops that water each flower petal nurturing new life.

Of bright yellow Daffodils and pink and white Dogwoods in bloom.

We dream of Spring.

I captured this image on a warm Summer's day as I drove through West Virginia on my way home to Kentucky from a trip to the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia. A field of Poppy flowers greeted me at a visitor center there. The sun was shrouded by clouds, but the pinks, lavenders and yellows of the Poppies were so beautiful. ENJOY!

Got the Blues for Cheekwood

Do you ever get the blues? Well, I got the blues at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens on Sunday afternoon. While meandering throughout the many, many gardens, and there were quite a few, I captured a few images of the 'blues'.

Most of the Tulips I photographed I didn't make a note of their names. To me, a Tulip is a Tulip is a Tulip. Granted an avid gardener would disagree, but I am not a gardener so I feel I am allowed to say that. This beautiful blue flower did not have a name plate near it and I am afraid while I attempted to ID it on Google, I fell short. If you should know the identification, please share.

I continued on my walk throughout the gardens and happened upon this little gem which I feel almost certain is a Blue Bell. I love the way each flower is like a tiny little bell.

It is no easy task to identify flowers. I try to do so by their color first, then their shape, specifically of their flower or petals, or their stems, and as a last ditch effort I go for the season. You name it and I am throwing in a word here, a word there, and if all goes well, I find the name of the flower. But as is the case today, sometimes the name eludes me. I love photographing flowers, and while I do not consider myself a pro or even a macro photographer, I try to capture a close up of each flower so that you can see all of the intricate details. While the color is the star of the show with flowers, the details get me every time. I hope you enjoyed my 'blues' as much as I enjoyed sharing them. Back soon. ENJOY!

Linking to Foodie Friday and Everything Else

Spring Daffys!

Bright yellow Daffodils. Surely the best sign that Spring is here.

Winter, however, is reluctant to release its grip on us and continues to dump snow on the Rockies, the Plains and now the Midwest and points east. Hang in there folks, Spring will prevail. ENJOY!

Witch Hazel

Don't you love the old school names for some flowers. I do. Witch Hazel sounds so mysterious to me. These little baby flowers were peeking out of their buds in the Arboretum at Bernheim last weekend. I so love the craggy looking branches on this tree. Hope your week has faired well. The weekend is almost upon us and I can only hope for a few hours of sunshine at least what with winter still hanging on for dear life. ENJOY!

Cherry Dogwood Buds

Although the skies were slightly overcast today, as I drove the usual parameter road around the Arboretum at Bernheim, I still managed to get out and take a few images, in particular of this beautiful Cornelian Cherry Dogwood. This particular Dogwood is indigenous of Europe and Western Asia. And I admit that I had never met its acquaintance in past visits to Bernheim. This is the first year I have driven up the Overlook Drive at Bernheim on an early Spring day. But I'm glad I did, because this was the only tree in the entire Arboretum that I found to be in the midst of bursting open with these gorgeous bright yellow blossoms. That's not to say there aren't lots of trees ready to burst open.

Last year Kentucky experienced quite an early Spring. During this same week last year I was photographing the Magnolia Hybrids in bloom. Not so this year. Spring is taking its 'ol sweet time. But that's OK, as I'm perfectly happy photographing this beautiful Cherry Dogwood. A few more weeks and Spring will be in full swing. I realize some of you folks are under siege by the fierce winter storm dumping more snow in the Rockies. And I know many of you are still shoveling out from the winter storm that dumped heavy snow on the Eastern seaboard and New England last week. I feel your pain. Here in Kentucky we are going to 'Spring Forward' tonight and lose an hour on our clocks. We'll have to adjust our body clocks as well. But tomorrow we'll find the light of day lasting later into the evening. I like the sound of that. Hope you are having a fantastic weekend whether you're shoveling snow or on the hunt for Spring blooms or just hanging out on the couch. ENJOY!

Spring Buds

As winter holds a strong grip on the mountain and plain states, as well as in New England, here in the Bluegrass State, I pray for early Spring to bring us buds and blooms and buzzes of insects.

Just a simple image today to convey my wish, my dream. Or better still Hope Springs Eternal. Meanwhile if you're in the midst of that blizzard I saw on the national news this evening, please stay safe and warm. ENJOY!